101 Things 2021 for Yumpu

Summer in the San Luis Valley 2021 Page 5
home of Jack Dempsey, and continues east through the
foothills of the Sangre de Cristos.
The byway continues into San Luis, the first town
in Colorado. The byway then journeys north to Fort
Garland. As the byway follows the Sangre de Cristo
mountain range, several natural wonders await: Zapata
Falls; the Great Sand Dunes National Park; the historic
Medano Ranch; and the San Luis Lakes State Park
and Wildlife Area.
The byway then turns south near two of the Valley’s
more colorful attractions, the UFO Watchtower and
the Colorado Gators, an alligator farm just north of
Alamosa on Hwy 17. The “ancient road” ends its journey
in Alamosa.
8. SILVER THREAD
The Silver Thread Scenic Byway passes through some
of the most scenic areas and towns in the San Juan
Mountains. Leaving the town of South Fork, the byway
begins its journey along the Rio Grande. The byway then
enters the Rio Grande National Forest, where it travels
through steep cañons of volcanic tuff before crossing an
alpine valley, home to herds of deer and elk.
Miners built the town of Creede in the spirit of
exploration. Outside the town, a driving tour of the
area’s mining heritage winds through the rugged
geologic formations. Between Creede and Lake City, the
highway passes The Slumgullion Earthflow, a geologic
form that began 700 years ago. The Silver Tread ends
at a second mining town, Lake City.
9. FORT GARLAND
The historic Fort Garland Museum takes visitors
back in time to the era of Kit Carson, commandant of
the fort from 1866-1867, and
earlier commanders.
The museum features
displays of the life of officers
and enlisted men during the
years the fort served southern
Colorado.
Walk the parade ground of
the fort and tour the adobe
buildings, which feature a recreation
of the commandant’s
quarters during Carson’s time.
Rich in military history, Fort
Garland also highlights the
folk art and culture of the
Hispanic community in southern Colorado.
The Fort Garland Museum and Visitor Center is
located in Fort Garland, 25 miles east of Alamosa off
U.S. Highway 160. The Fort Garland Museum and
Visitor Center is open year-round. For more information
call 719-379-3512.
10. ZAPATA FALLS
Zapata Falls BLM Recreation Area Zapata Falls, a
wonder of nature, is located four miles east of Colorado
Highway 150, just south of the entrance to Great Sand
Dunes National Park. From the parking and picnic area
it is about a half mile walk uphill to the falls. The Zapata
Falls Campground provides campsites. A trailhead in
the campground supplies a link to the South Zapata
Creek Trail and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. A
second trail, just above the campground in the day-use
area, leads visitors on a mildly steep half-mile hike to
the falls that give the campground its name.